Setting up the stillbirth registration system and investigating the
related causes in Iran in selected hospitals: Observational cohort study
Abstract
Abstract: Objective: Determine the related causes of stillbirth and
reduce the unexplained cases Design: Observational cohort study Setting:
14 selected hospital from 12 provinces (14 cities) of Iran Population: A
total of 105,562 births and 762 registered stillbirths at 22 completed
weeks of gestation or more Methods: Iranian Maternal and Neonatal
Network (IMaN) registers information about almost all births (live &
dead) around the country, but this network does not collect data about
stillbirth causes. In this study, we developed the stillbirth evaluation
protocol with experts’ cooperation, and we designed forms for the
stillbirth registration system electronically. Then we trained related
individuals in 14 selected hospitals around the country. After a year,
we extracted, analyzed, and, based on the Relevant Condition of Death
Classification (ReCoDe), interpreted the collected data. Main outcome
measures: Related causes of stillbirth Results: In 742 registered
stillbirth cases in 14 selected hospitals, the relevant causes were
identified in 65.4% of cases, while 34.6% of cases remained
unclassified. The most frequent relevant conditions were fetal (33.2%),
maternal (9.1%), amniotic fluid (8.8%), placenta (7.7%), and
umbilical cord (6.2%). Conclusions: Our registration decreased the
percentage of stillbirth with an unexplained cause from about 70% to
34.6%. Funding: Iran University of Medical Sciences Key words:
stillbirth, cause of stillbirth, Iran Tweetable abstract: The most
frequent relevant causes of stillbirth in Iran were fetal, maternal, and
amniotic fluid conditions.